Fast Independent Component Analysis Algorithm-Based Diagnosis of L5 Nerve Root Compression and Changes of Brain Functional Areas Using 3D Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In this paper, the application of 3-dimensional (3D) functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) in the diagnosis of the 5th lumbar (L5) nerve root compression and brain functional areas in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) was analyzed. The traditional fast independent component analysis (Fast ICA) algorithm was optimized based on the modified whitening matrix to establish a new type of Modified-Fast ICA (M-Fast ICA) algorithm that was compared with the introduced traditional Fast ICA and ICA. M-Fast ICA was applied to the 3D FMRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) evaluation of 65 patients with L5 nerve root pain due to LDH (group A) and 50 healthy volunteers (group B). The values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the lumbar nerve roots (L3, L4, L5, and the 1st sacral vertebra (S1)) were recorded among subjects from the two groups. Besides, the score of edema degree in the lumbar nerve roots (L5 and S1) and activity of brain functional areas were also recorded among all subjects of the two groups. The results showed that the mean square error of M-Fast ICA was smaller than that of traditional Fast ICA and ICA, while its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was greater than that of Fast ICA and ICA ( P < 0.05 ). The FA of L5 and S1 nerve roots in patients of group A was sharply lower than the values of group B, while the ADC of patients in group A was greater than that of the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Besides, the score of edema in L5 and S1 nerve roots of patients in group A increased in contrast to group B ( P < 0.05 ). The brain areas were activated after surgery including bilateral temporal lobe, left thalamus, splenium of corpus callosum, and right internal capsule. In conclusion, the 3D image denoising performance of M-Fast ICA optimized and constructed in this study was superior to that of the traditional Fast ICA and ICA. The FA of patients with L5 nerve root pain due to LDH decreased steeply, while the ADC increased dramatically. L5 nerve root pain caused by LDH resulted in changes in brain functional areas of the patients to inhibit the resting state default network activity, and the corresponding brain functional areas could be activated through treatment.

A Protocol for Developing a Clinical Practice Guideline of Moxibustion in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Background: Lumbar disc herniation(LDH), as a disease with great disturbance to life and work, is known as the origin of the severe and disabling forms of nerve root pain. Recognized as an increasingly widely accepted treatment, the efficacy of moxibustion on LDH has been affirmed. However, clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the treatment of LDH with moxibustion have not been developed. Therefore, we will carry out this work following the accepted methodological quality standards.Methods: The new CPG will be developed according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & EvaluationⅡ (AGREEⅡ) and WHO guideline handbook. And then determine recommendations based on high-level evidence. We will set up a Guideline Working Group and define clinical issues according to the PICO principles (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes). After evidence syntheses and several rounds of Delphi process, we will reach the consensus. In making the guideline, Patient values or preferences, results of peer review, and interest statements are all within the bounds of what we must consider. Results: As the study is not yet complete, no results can be reported.Conclusion: So far, we will develop the first CPG for moxibustion of LDH strictly based on systematic methodologies in China. This CPG will establish the standard of LDH in moxibustion therapy.Registration number: IPGRP-2020CN034.

SCIATICA (IRQ-UN-NASA) IN MODERN AND UNANI PERSPECTIVE

Sciatica is a type of neuropathic pain and commonest variation of low back pain. It is known by a range of terms in the literature, such as lumbo sacral radicular syndrome, radiculopathy, nerve root pain and nerve root entrapment or irritation etc. The intense leg pain may be accompanied by neurological changes of muscle weakness and wasting, sensory changes in the nerve root distribution. There may be intra-spinal, intra-pelvic and extra-pelvic causes compressing the nerve and producing inflammation. In Unani medicine the term “Irq-un-Nasa” is used to describe such pain that initiates from lower back and radiates up 4,5 to knee or ankle joint posterolaterally. Most of the Unani scholars have mentioned it as a subtype of Wajaul Mafasil. The most common cause is the infiltration (nufooz) of abnormal homours in the fluid of hip joint, such as Ghair tabayi Balgham, Safra or Dam or admixture of Balgham and Safra, such infiltration for a prolonged period result into Tahajjur-e-Mafasil and even Irq-un-Nasa. Whenever the nerve becomes weak due to any reason the susceptibility for the accumulation of any morbid matter is increased. There may be sue mizaj damwi/ safravi/ balghami/ saudawi as active cause of Irq-un-Nasa. By now it is understood that this is the disease of nerve, and it is diagnosed and managed accordingly.

Epidural Abscess

There are several conditions that have similar symptoms as those seen in spine infections so it is important to apply imaging studies, labs, and patient history in the workup. In the case of a true spinal epidural abscess (SEA) there exists a tetrad of stages, as described by Heusner et al. These can be characterized with a spinal ache or pain that proceeds into the second stage of nerve root pain, which is followed by the third stage of weakness in the voluntary muscles that culminates at the fourth stage of paralysis. Due to the danger of rapid progression, most spinal epidural abscesses are considered to be a neurosurgical emergency.

Unique Complications of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy and Percutaneous Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) includes 2 main procedures: percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID), both of which are minimally invasive surgical procedures that effectively deal with lumbar degenerative disorders. Because of the challenging learning curve for the surgeon and the individual characteristics of each patient, preventing and avoiding complications is difficult. The most common complications, such as nucleus pulposus omission, nerve root injury, dural tear, visceral injury, nerve root induced hyperalgesia or burning-like nerve root pain, postoperative dysesthesia, posterior neck pain, and surgical site infection, are difficult to avoid; however, more focus on these issues perioperatively may be in order. Additionally, unique and unexpected complications can also occur, such as retroperitoneal hematoma (RPH), intraoperative seizures, and thrombophlebitis, among others. Objective: We aim to delineate unique complications during PED and accumulate strategies to prevent significant morbidity and improve surgical techniques. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing PEID or PELD from October 2014 to January 2016. Setting: Affiliated hospitals of Qingdao University. Methods: Patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent PEID and PELD were retrospectively analyzed. Complications were recorded and analyzed pre and postoperatively. We assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and classified the results into “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor” based on the modified MacNab criteria. All of the patients were followed for more than one year to evaluate their recovery from complications. Results: From October 2014 to January 2016, 426 patients with LDH underwent PEID (106 cases) or PELD (320 cases). Common complications and occurrence rates were as follows: the incomplete removal of herniated discs was 1.4% (6/426), recurrence 2.8% (12/426), nerve root injury 1.2% (5/426), dural tear 0.9% (4/426), and nerve root induced hyperalgesia or burning-like nerve root pain 2.3% (10/426); no posterior neck pain or surgical site infection occurred. Unique complications included: passage of the working channel through the spinal canal into the disc space (one case), super-elastic nerve hook caught by exiting nerve root (one case), epidural hematoma (one case), radicular artery injury and massive bleeding (one case) which was revised by micro-endoscopic discectomy, and intraoperative seizure (one case). No serious consequences occurred after active medical intervention, and most patients had good recovery by 3 months postoperatively with physical therapy. Limitations: The main limitations of this study are the retrospective study design, limited case number, and short follow-up period. Conclusions: PEDs are effective and minimally invasive methods for the surgical treatment of LDH, causing fewer complications due to the very minimal operational trauma for the muscle-ligament complex and stability of the spine. Nevertheless, because of the difficult learning curve for surgeons, lack of experience with the requisite surgical techniques, and enhanced clinical responsibility, a variety of problems may occur. Especially concerning are the unique complications mentioned here, which potentially lead to severe injury for the patient and require diligent preventive measures. Key words: Unique complications, epidural, hematoma, interlaminar, transforaminal, PEID, PELD

Flank pain

The diagnoses shown in bold in Figure 18.1 are all surgical emergencies that you must exclude as you clerk the patient. In women, you should consider gynaecological causes, e.g. ectopic pregnancy, ovarian torsion (you can of course narrow these down depending on whether the woman is of childbearing age or not). Also, bear in mind that other abdominal pathology can occasionally present as flank pain (e.g. pancreatitis, diverticulitis, appendicitis). You should ask the standard array of questions about the pain—remember the mnemonic SOCRATES: Site: Where is the pain, and has it always been there? Is it unilateral or bilateral? Kidney stones are almost always unilateral, but the location of the pain may radiate from loin to groin. Often they start with a vague discomfort that is ignored until it becomes a severe pain. Onset: Any trauma or other trigger, or spontaneous? Gradual or sudden? Trauma may lead to musculoskeletal pain or internal bleeding. Character: Is the pain colicky or constant? Is it sharp or dull? Ureteric stones give a colicky (waxing and waning) pain because of periodic spasms of the ureteric smooth muscle walls trying to dislodge the blockage. A constant pain is more consistent with a stone lodged in the kidney, which does not periodically contract (‘vermiculate’) like the ureters, or an inflammatory cause. Musculoskeletal pain is more typically an ache, while nerve impingement causes shooting pains. Radiation: Does the pain radiate to the groin (typical of ureteric pain)? Does it radiate down the leg (typical of lumbar nerve root pain)? Alleviating factors: Does anything make the pain better, e.g. a given posture, eating/drinking, any medications, etc.? Timing: How long has the pain been present? Musculoskeletal back pain can last many weeks, whereas a leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is unlikely to persist for more than a day without resolution, one way or another. Exacerbating factors: Does anything make the pain worse? Patients with peritonitis (e.g. due to a perforated peptic ulcer) are very sensitive to movement. Severity: How severe is the pain (e.g. on a scale of 1–10)? Kidney stones are said to be excruciatingly painful, comparable to childbirth.